Earl K. Diem

Born in Lancaster County, he was the son of the late Wilson E. M. Diem and Mabel Kern Diem. He was the husband of M. Elizabeth Esbenshade Diem. They celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary June 15th, 2010.

Mr. Diem graduated in 1935 from the Lancaster Boys High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a First Class Petty Officer in an aviation supply unit in the South Pacific.

For a number of years, he was department manager and toy buyer for Farmers Supply Co., in downtown Lancaster. He along with his wife owned and operated Diem’s Market Basket. In 1963, he accepted a position in Harrisburg as a purchasing agent for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He retired in 1978 as purchasing supervisor for the Department of General Services.

Mr. Diem was a member of Faith Evangelical Congregational Church, Lancaster. Prior to that, he was a member of Grace E.C. Church, Lancaster, where he taught Sunday school for over 60 years.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Esbenshade Diem, and one son, James E., husband of Mary Calder Diem, Lancaster; two granddaughters, Kimberly D., wife of Rodney R. Heim and Pamela C. Diem. He was preceded in death by a sister, Marion Scott, and two brothers, Adam K. Diem and Charles W. Diem.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the service at Faith Evangelical Congregational Church, 2124 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 11:00 AM. The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. Interment will be at Landis Valley Mennonite Cemetery.